APPROACHES TO ANIMALS RIGHTS o Judeo-Christian tradition - Animals put here for our purposes - Some exceptions: St. Francis of Assisi o Philosophical tradition (Aristotle,Descartes, Kant) - Traditionally excludes nonhuman animals from rights of persons - Aristotle: Animals have no ability to reason (logos) - We have no moral obligations to animals o Social contract theory - Agreement among persons - Excludes rights for animalsAPPROACHES TO ANIMAL RIGHTS (CONT.) o Utilitarian: Peter Singer - As animals feel pleasure and pain, just as human animals, we have moral obligations to them - We should maximize pleasure and minimize pain for all animals, both human and nonhuman o Kantian: Tom Regan - Rejects utilitarianism - Nonhuman animals should be treated with respect and dignity, just like human animals WHAT IS SPECIESISM? “Speciesism”: a prejudice or attitude of bias toward interests of one’s own species and against those of other species Conventional view: morality is dependent on persons and social contract among them Critics of conventional view: all animals have inherent value, even if they are not moral agents “All Animals are Equal . . . Or why Supporters of Liberation for Blacks and women should Support Animal Liberation Too" --Peter Singer Speciesism is wrong for the same reasons sexism and racism are wrong Principle of equal consideration: the pain that nonhuman animals feel is of equal moral importance to the pain that humans feel Utilitarianism shows that we owe moral obligations to nonhuman animalsTOM REGAN - THE CASE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS Opposes speciesism (like Singer) Rejects utilitarianism for animal rights Uses Kantian respect for nonhuman animals to support animal rights All lives with inherent value are equal CARL COHEN - DO ANIMALS HAVE RIGHTS? Animals cannot possess rights Only humans are moral agents with rights Challenges Regan’s Kantian analysis attributing rights to animals The use of animals in medical research is justifiable We have obligations to animals, but that does not mean animals have rights PAUL W. TAYLOR - ETHICS OF RESPECT FOR NATURE Individualist (not holistic) approach to environmental ethics Principal concern: individual organisms, not biotic community as a whole Life-centered system: Kant-like respect for all of nature All living things have inherent worthINSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (IACUC) Regulatory body that oversees the employment of policies regarding animal research/use o Every institution that uses federally derived funds for research involving animals must have an IACUC o Many private funding sources now require IACUC review o Many journals require IACUC review of work they might publish IACUC established in 1985 by amendment to the Animal Welfare Act. IACUC HISTORY Mid-1800s saw increased use of animals in research, and that spawned efforts in the area of animal welfare, e.g., British Cruelty to Animals Act of 1876. Since mid-1900s, three entities involved in development of animal care standards: - Scientist conducting animal-based research - Government through legislation/regulatory bodies - Public Scientist - Ethical/animal welfare considerations - Non-uniform care can result in variable outcomes and poor research - 1963 the first Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. - Now in 8th edition, National Academy of SciencesIACUC HISTORY (CONT.) 1966 – Animal Welfare Act - USDA is regulator. - Original intent regulate animal care in laboratory setting. - Regulates the treatment of warm-blooded animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers. - Act enforced by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). IACUC HISTORY 1979 – Public Health Service developed policy covering animal research - Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare - OLAW oversees implementation of policy - NIH, CDC, FDA – to name a few agencies - NSF follows OLAW regulations/recommendations - Requires an IACUC and expands to all vertebratesIACUC HISTORY (CONT.) PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT - 1969 Greenpeace - 1966 LIFE magazine article - 1975 Animal Liberation, Peter Singer Victims of Science, Ryder - 1980 PETA, Alex Pacheco - Animal Liberation Front GUIDE FOR THE CARE AND USE OF LABORATORY ANIMALS EIGHT EDITION o Key Concepts o Animal Care and Use Program o Environment, Housing, and Management o Veterinary Care o Physical Plant "Three Rs" o Replacement Absolute Lower vertebrates o Refinement Improve husbandry Improve experimental procedures Minimize pain, distress o Reduction Fewest number used to maximize information viz. designGUIDE FOR THE CARE AND USE OF LABORATORY ANIMALS (CONT.) Title says "Laboratory animals"... ...but animal care and use program outlined in guide applies to all vertebrate animals, laboratory or free-ranging, used in teaching and research.IACUC Who is on the IACUC? o Minimum of 5 members must be on a panel - Veterinarian familiar with the animals used in research - Practicing scientist who works with animals in their research - Member from institution whose concerns are non-scientific - A member with no association to the institution o What does IACUC do? - Evaluate protocols that will involve animals in research and teaching - Inspect facilities that house animals (twice/year) - Responsible for animal care and use program - IACUC reports to USDA and to OLAW/PHSPREPARING PROTOCOLS FOR IACUC What does IACUC need to know? - Identification of the species - Number of individuals - Description of the work – for a lay person - Description of procedures - Description of euthanasia .